Idioms
you say firmly and honestly what you think about a situation, even if this may offend or upset people
speak your mind
FILL IN THE GAP WITH ONE WORD
------ times out of ten I have to stand on the bus.
NINE times out of ten I have to stand on the bus.
OPEN THE BRACKETS
He regrets ------ (not work) abroad when he had the opportunity.
He regrets NOT WORKING abroad when he had the opportunity.
Quite f------, I don't like romcoms, they make me sick.
Quite FRANKLY, I don't like romcoms, they make me sick.
The ticket price appears ------- (include) a drink.
The ticket price appears TO INCLUDE a drink.
discuss a matter without coming to the point
to beat about the bush
REPHRASE
They entered a lot of competitions. (forever)
They were forever entering a lot of competitions.
CORRECT
If only we'd meet earlier, we wouldn't have missed the beginning of the film.
If only we HAD MET earlier, we wouldn't have missed the beginning of the film.
I'd h-------- a guess, that woman is up to no good.
I'd HAZARD a guess, that woman is up to no good.
--------- (help) is a human instinct.
HELPING is a human instinct.
an unpredictable or uncontrolled person who is liable to cause unintentional damage
a loose cannon
CORRECT
I would got a new dictionary every year when I was at school.
I would GET a new dictionary every year when I was at school.
USE INVERSION
------- I -------- (be) better prepared, the interview would have been better.
HAD I BEEN better prepared, the interview would have been better.
He gives an i------------- of being thoughtful.
He gives an IMPRESSION of being thoughtful.
Homelessness was thought ------ (be) the problem of the past.
Homelessness was thought TO BE the problem of the past.
somebody is -------- when they have been behaving in the same way for many years and do not want to change
set in their ways
REPHRASE
He's often insensitive. (prone)
He is prone to being insensitive.
COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE SO IT HAS THE SIMILAR MEANING WITH THE FIRST
I shouldn't have left school when I was 16.
I wish-----------------
I wish I hadn't left school when I was 16.
Olly's not interested in other cultures or ideas, he's so n------------.
Olly's not interested in other cultures or ideas, he's so NARROW-MINDED.
It's considered impolite ------- (not apologise).
It's considered impolite NOT TO APOLOGISE.
someone who is very experienced and skilled in a particular area of activity
an old hand
FILL IN THE GAP WITH ONE WORD
She --------- saying that she was OK but we didn't believe her.
She KEPT saying that she was OK but we didn't believe her.
COMPLETE THE SECOND SENTENCE SO IT HAS THE SIMILAR MEANING WITH THE FIRST
Her grandfather's money paid for the appartment.
But for.........
But for her grandfather's money she wouldn't have paid for the appartment.
My first visit to London was certainly e--------------.
My first visit to London was certainly EYE-OPENING.
Sometimes I wish everybody would stop hurting each other's feelings. ------------ (say) that, I still believe that most people are good.
HAVING SAID that, I still believe that most people are good.